By Chad Hershberger
Reflections from the Pavillion
I’m writing this after Wednesday afternoon snack time. I sat in the pavilion and observed our campers this week interacting with one another while they ate their bag of Cheez-its. My mind wondered, pondering how these peer-to-peer, in-person human interactions are where relationships are built. Sharing food, looking each other in the eye, talking about what’s happening in life—it’s all key to the human experience.
It’s also a key piece of what we do at camp. Welcoming everyone, learning their name, valuing them as a child of God, helping them build a community and figuring out how to live with one another is the keystone of what we do. When a cabin group is not getting along, their leaders help them figure out how to live in harmony. When a camper is nervous about a particular activity, their cabin leaders stay by their side to give them courage. When a camper needs a special accommodation so that they can participate fully, we work hard to make happen.
This summer, I’ve seen so much good here at camp. And I’m reminded that the world needs camp now more than ever. When these children, youth, and young adults are grown-up, maybe they will be the ones who lead with positivity, a listening ear, an attitude of acceptance and collaboration. Maybe they will lead with mercy, gratitude, and grace. And maybe they will remember snack time on Wednesday afternoon and how camp shaped them into who they are.
The Summer So Far
It’s been a full first half of the summer. We had two weeks of staff orientation and development which included an installation for our staff by Bishop Craig A. Miller of the Upper Susquehanna Synod (USS). Our first week featured a new community day camp, held at Faith Lutheran Church in Lewisburg. There, we ministered to campers who otherwise might now get to try the camp experience. Back at Mount Luther, a crew of volunteers and staff did work projects around camp. Our first resident week featured us solving the Mystery of the Blue Mist during “Scooby Doo” week. Our X-Teen campers learned more about leadership and had a fancy dinner when they all got dressed up. Family Campers the last week of June were taken back to retro times and enjoyed adult Bible studies with Sue Ellen Spotts, USS Director of Evangelical Mission. We had our annual talent show campfire and a day camp for younger campers. The first full week of July featured our new Fantasy camp, inspired by role-playing adventures. We also had three staff-in-training teens who served as junior counselors. We can’t wait to see what God has in store for us in the second half of the summer!
